Ex-NFL star arrested after violent confrontation with LAPD

LOS ANGELES — Former Indiana and NFL wide receiver James Hardy III was arrested and hospitalized on Sunday after an altercation with police in Los Angeles, a media relations spokesman at the LAPD confirmed Monday. According to the spokesman, Hardy was charged with resisting a police officer.

The arrest was originally reported by TMZ Sports.

The LAPD spokesman confirmed most of the details of the TMZ report, but said the investigation is still preliminary and a probable cause affidavit has not yet been filed. He said that at 4 p.m. on Sunday, officers were called to the 600 block on St. Paul Avenue in downtown Los Angeles because a man was causing a disturbance, though the spokesman did not know the nature of that disturbance.

The spokesman said the officers made contact with the suspect, Hardy, did not comply with their demands and the use of force ensued. He said officers attempted to subdue him using a taser gun, but that was not effective. Hardy resisted, causing minor injuries to three police officers, who were treated and released. Hardy was eventually subdued and then taken to the hospital where he was in stable condition. The spokesman said the LAPD's Force Investigation Division is looking in to the matter, and that no further details are available at this time.

Hardy helped lead Indiana to the Insight Bowl in 2007 when he was named a second-team All-American by the Walter Camp Foundation and a third-team pick by the Associated Press. He caught 79 passes that year for 1,125 yards and 16 touchdowns, all Indiana records. He remains Indiana's all-time career leader in receptions with 191 and receiving yards with 2,740. He was taken in the second round by the Buffalo Bills in the 2008 draft, but played just two seasons in the NFL.